The Rev. Tim Schenck, rector of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass., looks for God amid domestic chaos

Part 3 - The Bill Keeler Interview : Years In Utica Radio Reviewed

About this blog

Tim Schenck is an Episcopal priest, husband to Bryna, father to Benedict and Zachary, and \x34master\x34 to Delilah (about 50 in dog years). Since 2009 I've been the rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass. (on the
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Tim Schenck is an Episcopal priest, husband to Bryna, father to Benedict and Zachary, and \x34master\x34 to Delilah (about 50 in dog years). Since 2009 I've been the rector of the Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, Mass. (on the South Shore of Boston). I've also served parishes in Maryland and New York. When I'm not tending to my parish, hanging out with my family, or writing, I can usually be found drinking good coffee -- not that drinking coffee and these other activities are mutually exclusive. I hope you'll visit my website at www.frtim.com to find out more about me, read some excerpts from my book \x34What Size are God's Shoes: Kids, Chaos & the Spiritual Life\x34 (Morehouse, 2008), and check out some recent sermons.

It's not easy, or necessary, for anyone who works within the public arena to open up their personal lives. But, does a public figure truly have any privacy anymore? Arguably the most famous radio personality in the history of the Utica-Rome market, Bill Keeler gives us a glimpse into his thoughts on how his three decade-plus career at local radio stations continues to be a work in progress.

Through hard work and talent, over the years Keeler hosted morning radio programs have always been in the top one, two, or three rated positions. When many residents in the Mohawk Valley have awakened weekday mornings through the years, chances are they were joined by Keeler - the morning rock jock. Quite the opposite can be said today as host of Keeler In The Morning . The Mohawk native addresses more serious, timely news issues having far lasting ramifications than Oneida and Herkimer counties. Keeler will always be fighting off the reputation of being nothing more than a prankster. Fortunately for him, Keeler's talk time on WIBX 950 will no doubt put a crack in the outdated tag .

" I tried to get with WIBX for the past three, maybe four years ", Keeler said. " Not being taken seriously bothered me ".

Keeler believes, and no doubt their were former radio programmers as well as occasional listeners who thought when going to WIBX that he would make a mockery of the show. Fans of the Keeler show have heard how deep the program goes in the topics it covers. " The show is progressing as I knew it would. ", says Keeler. Understanding the serious tone of the WIBX 950 morning show host, who is joined daily by Kristine Bellino and Jeff Monaski, is to follow Keeler's radio lineage in the Valley.

When asked about his introduction to radio as an on-air talent, Keeler remembers back with accuracy to August 1981. It was the summer before his senior year of high school that then locally operated WLFH-AM 1230 came calling. Before going to classes at Mohawk High, Keeler would be in the station's studio on Ann Street in Herkimer County's only city, putting together what he labels ' a really cool news package '. Teachers would compliment him on his early morning delivery. " For a year I made nothing, I was considered an intern ", Keeler states. But, on Sundays, Keeler stretched the definition of intern/free-laborer. Not long after his new shift had a routine to it, Keeler found himself with a regular disc jockey assignment on Sundays. When Spring 1982 came around, so did a salary - $ 3.35 per hour. From that time until December 1989, Keeler was a mainstay at WLFH. His final salary was $6,900. annually.

" I've gained many friends over the years from my beginning in radio, some close, some distant, "Keeler explains. " It's a cut throat business where you find out who your friends are when you go to another station . All of a sudden people who you thought were your friend are no longer, no matter how good you have been to them ".

Whether you agree with his opinions or want to call his show and set his views straight, Bill Keeler constantly stirs emotions, and perhaps more importantly, pushes listeners to think, and question. Entertaining and informative, what more could listeners request ? Need proof of Keeler's power of persuasion - tune into to WIBX 950 any morning at 6 o'cock.